Overdrive control system



Sept. 10, 1940. Y CLAYTQR 2,214,100

OVERDRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 56/ 032 f {a I 1 INVENTOR Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES OVERDRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM Edward M. Claytor, Anderson, Ind., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich a corporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1939, Serial No. 297,034

4 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically operated means for controlling the overdrive gearing for an automotive vehicle. One type of overdrive with which the present invention may be used is 5 one in which a shaftv transmitting power from the change speed gearing of the automobile may be connected with the propeller shaft for a 1 to 1 gear ratio drive or indirectly through planetary gearing of the overdrive by means of which the u propeller shaft is caused to rotate faster than the drive shaft. The planetary gearing includes a sun gear which rotates with the drive shaft when the overdrive is not operative. To render the overdrive operative, the sun gear must be held 1| stationary. In my copending application S. N.

-241,917, filed November 23, 1938, I disclose an overdrive control in which the sun gear locking pawl is urged normally into locking position by a spring, and in which the locking pawl is retracted by the operation of a solenoid. .In order to facilitate retraction of the sun gear locking pawl by the solenoid I provide a relay which disables the ignition circuit momentarily until the solenoid has ,completed its operation. The disabling of the ignition circuit causes the engine to cease firing until the sun gear latch or pawl is withdrawn, whereupon the normal firing is reestablished.

The present invention is concerned more particularly with an overdrive controlled by a sun gear locking pawl which is actuated by the $0191 noid into locking position and by a spring out of locking position. The present invention is concerned with momentarily disabling the ignition circuit during the time in which the sun gear locking pawl is retracted by spring operation. According to the disclosure of my copending application Serial No. 290,356, filed August 16, 1939, I'control the time during which the ignition circuit is interrupted by means of electromagnetic relay which operates to maintain the ignition circuit open .for ameasured time after the solenoid circuit is interrupted. This measufed time isv controlled by the relay and is independent of the movement of retraction of the sun gear locking pawl. The time delay is greater than the time required under all normal conditions for the sun gear locking pawl to be withdrawn. In case the pawl is not retracted for any reason, such as failure of the return spring, the sticking of the pawl due. to heavy, cold lubricant or due to excessive negative pressure as when going down along grade, the relay completes the ignition circuit in any event. According to the disclosure. of my application #290,356 I combine, with the time measuring relay, a switch actuated in response to the return of the pawl to fully retractedposition for reestablishingthe ignition circuit. In this way I am able to reduce the time during which the igni- 5 tion is nonoperative to the minimum requirements while, at the same time, providing for the ultimate reestablishment of the ignition circuit in case of failure to retract the sun gear locking pawl. It is an object of the invention of the present application to prevent interference by other elements of the overdrive control system with the function of the measured time relay to maintain the ignition circuit in non-operating condition 15 for a predetermined time. In accomplishing this object I provide for the opening of the circuit of the magnet coil of the measured time relay ahead of disconnecting the solenoid from the battery so that, any inductive kick derived from the solenoid, when disconnected from the battery, cannot operate in a way such as to hasten the decay of flux in the measured time relay and thereby cause it to operate for the purpose of rendering the ignition circuit operative before the lapse of a predetermined time. In the present application I disclose this feature in a system in which the ignition circuit is grounded for the purpose of rendering the ignition inoperative.

Further objects and advantages of the present 30 invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred embodi-- ments of the present invention are clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of an overdrive to which the control of my present invention is applied, said control being illustrated by a wiring diagram forming a part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the sun gear lock- 0 ing pawl and pawl blocking member which has been moved to position to permit movement of the pawl into engagement with the sun gear locking ring. x

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of anotherform of 45 my invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, numeral .1 indicates the driving shaft of the overdrive mechanism. The shaft 1 receives its power from the change speed gear mechanism housed in a box which would be located between the overdrive mechanism and the engine clutch. The shaft l is provided with external splines f 2 which mesh with internal splines 30. of the ring 3 and with internal splines 91; of the driving member of an overrunning an axially aligned recess 80 provided in .the.

clutch 9. -The external splines v2 mesh also with internal splines 8a of a coupling member 8 to which the propeller shaft 8b may be attached. The splines 2 connect together the members 3 and 9 as shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to use the overdrive mechanism. When it is not intended that the overdrive mechanism shall be used for any considerable period of time, the overdrive may be entirely disconnected by moving the shaft I endwise toward the left so that its external splines 2 will engage the internal splines 8a of the member 8, thus connecting together the members 8 and 9 and leaving the members 3 free. The shaft I is supported for axial movement at both ends. The support for the right .hand end of the shaft I is not shown. At the left end of the shaft I it is provided with a reduced portion Ie having a sliding fit within member 8.

The-ring 3 carries a plurality of rods 4 each rotatively supporting a planet gear 5 which meshes with a sun gear 6 and with an internal ring gear Ia integral with ring 'I which cooperates with the clutch rollers III, which in turn cooperate with a driving clutch cam 9 to receive transmission of torque from the driving member I at such time as the driving member 9 tends'to rotate ahead of the member I. However, when a ring II attached to the sun gear 6 is engaged by a sun gear locking pawl 22 which is received by one of a series of notches I2 in ring I I, the internal ring gear Ia and its ring I are driven at a speed exceeding the speed of the clutch driving member 9. Under these conditions the ring I will overrun the clutch driving member 9. The pawl 22 is normally maintained out of engagement with the ring I I by a pawl rod 23 which is controlled in a manner to be described. Movement of the pawl 22 into engagement with the ring II is obstructed, except under certain conditions, by a blocker plate I3 which is frictionally dragged by ring II. The block plate I3 is provided stop lugs I4 and I5 which project beyond stop surfaces I6 and I I which may be engaged under certain conditions by the pawl 22. The surfaces I6 and I1 are interrupted by a notch I8 of suflicient width to permit movement of the pawl 22 between the surfaces I6 and I1 when the notch I8 is brought into alignment with the pawl 22, as shown in Fig. 2. The pawl 22 is guided between bosses I9 and 28 of the frame 2| of the overdrive mechanism. Bosses I9 and 20 project into the plane of the blocker plate I3 so .as to be engaged by lugs I4 and I5, respectively. When the ring II rotates clockwise, the blocker plate I3 will be frictionally dragged clockwise until its lug I4 strikes the boss I9, and further movement of the blocker plate I3 in the clockwise direction will cease. When the ring II rotates counterclockwise, the blocker plate I3 will be frictionally dragged counterclockwise until its lug I5 engages the boss 20 whereupon counterclockwise move-,

ment of the plate I3 will cease. An explanation of the clockwise and counterclockwise movements of the ring II will be given in connection with the mode of operation of the control device which controls the overdrive gearing.

The sun gear locking pawl 22 is attached to a pawl rod 23 forming part of a solenoid unit 38. Rod 23 extends thru a solenoid stationary core 24 and through a solenoid armature 25. Rod 23 has a shoulder portion 26 located within a recess 21 provided by the armature 25. Recess 21 houses a coil spring 28 located in a state of compression between the shoulder 26 and a nut 29 threadedly attached to the armature 25. Nut 29 has a flange 3| engaged by coil spring 32 located in a state of compression between flange 3I and a stationary member 33. Spring 32 normally urges the nut 29 against a stationary plate 34. Flange 3| is engageable with a resilient contact arm 35 carrying a contact 36 normally engaged with a contact 31. Arm 35 is grounded at 38. Contact 31 is connected by a wire 39 with the main attracting coil 48 of the solenoid connected with a terminal 42. Coil 48 is a series coil comprising a relatively small number of turns of relatively coarse wire. Terminal 42 is connected with solenoid holding coil M which comprises a relatively large number of turns of fine wire. Holding coil M is grounded at 43. The rod 23 extends thru the nut 3I and the stationary stop plate 34 to engage a non-conducting block 44 attached to a resilient contact arm 45 carrying a contact 46 normally out of engagement with contact 41 which is grounded at 48. Arm

45 is connected with a terminal 49.

The solenoid unit is. described in further'detail in my copending application S. N. 290,356, filed August 16, 1939.

A generator 50 is connected thru a reverse circuit relay 5I, an ammeter 52 and a wire 53 with a storage battery 54.grounded at 55. A wire 56 connects wire 53 with terminal SI of a relay G0. Relay 68 comprises a core 62 surrounded. by a magnet winding 63 connected with terminal BI and with a terminal 64. Terminal 6I is connected with an armature 65 normally resiliently urged away from the core 62. Armature 65 carries a contact 66 for engaging a contact 61 mounted on a resilient arm 68 connected by a wire 69 with a terminal I0. Armature 65 carries a contact ll engageable with a contact I2. Arma'ture 65 insulatingly supports a contact I3 normally engaging a contact I4 connected with a terminal I5. I Numeral designates a measured time relay 3 having a core 8| surrounded by a magnet coil 82 grounded at 83 and connected by wire with contact I2 of relay 60. Core 8I cooperates with an armature 85 normally biased away from the core and carrying a contact 86 engageable with a contact 81 connected by a wire 88 with contact I3 of relay 69. A noninductiveresistance 89 is connected in shunt with magnet coil 82 for the purpose to be described later.

Numeral 96 designates a quick operating relay which comprises a core 9| surrounded by magnet coil 92 connected at one end with a terminal 93 and connected at the other end by wire 94 with terminal 6| of relay 60. Core 9| cooperates with armature 95 normally biased away from the core and carrying a contact 96 engageable with a contact 9'I grounded at 98.v An indicator lamp 99 is connected between the wire 94 and the terminal 93.

Numeral I designates an ignition coil having a primary IIlI and a secondary I02. Primary I8I is connected with wire 53 thru an ignition switch I83. Primary IIII is connected with-a terminal I94 and with an ignition timer I05 grounded at I06. Terminal I94 is connected by a wire I 0! to the terminal I5 of relay 69.

Terminal I0 is connected by wire I08 withterminal 42.0f solenoid unit 30. Wire I89 connects terminal 93 with terminal 49 of solenoid unit 30. An indicator lamp IIll grounded at III is connected with terminal 18..

Terminal 64' of relay 60 is connected by wire 2,214,100 able contact I23 held out of engagement with stationary contacts by av spring I24. The gear switch I20 is closed by mechanism for controlling the connection of-certain trains of gears between the engine shaft and the propeller shaft of the automobile. For example, switch I20 may be,

closed by mechanism which is actuated when the manually operated gear shaft lever is in inter- "mediate position 'or in high speed position.

arrow I36.

Switch I20 might be closed by the mechanism for zliiiftilng the shaft I into the position shown in E- left to disconnect gear I from element 3 and to connect gear 2 with element 8a the switch I20 would be opened.

Switch I20 is connected with kick switch I25 comprising stationary contacts I25 and I2! normally engaged by contact I28 held normally in contact closing position by a spring I 29. The switch I25 is opened by a suitable pedal cooperating with switch actuating rod I25a. This pedal may be the engine throttle or accelerator pedal which causes the switch I25 to open by'movement of accelerator pedal beyondwide open throttle position.

Switch I 25 is connected with ground thru a switch responsive to vehicle speed such as an air switch I30 having a grounded vane I 3I pivoted at I32 maintained normally out of engagement with contact I33 by a spring I34. The vane I3I is moved into engagement with contact I33 by the action of an air current provided by the engine cooling fan I35 which causes a current of air to.

impinge upon the vane I3I as indicated by the closed. When the vehicle speed attains a certainvalue such as 25 M. P. H. for example, the air switch I30 will be closed. As stated before. switchxl25 is normally closed. All three switches I20, I25 and I30 being closed, the winding 53 of relay will receive current from the battery 54 thereby causing armature 55. to be attracted and contacts and II to engage-contactsfil and I2, respectively. Contact 55 engages contact 51 before contact II engages, contact I2. Therefore,

. when armature 55 moves away from core 52, coning H to ground 43. Both windings 40 and 4I,

tact II will be separated from" contact 12 before contact is disengaged from contact 51 for a purpose to be described later. Movement of contact 55 toward core 52 causes contact I3 tobe separated from contact 14 thereby interrupting any ground connection which could be made with .terminal lll between timer I05 and coil I00.

'When contact." engages contact 51 the solenoid coils 40 and H will be connected to the battery thru the-following circuit: Battery '54, wire 55, terminal 5|, armature 55, contact 65, contact 5I, arm 53, wire 53, terminal I0, wire I03, terminal 42, winding 40, wire 39,'contact 31, contact 35, arm 35, ground 33 and battery'ground 55.

From terminal 42 there Is a circuit thru windcooperate to attract solenoid armature 25'toward core 24. As armature 25 moves downward 1y, it carries with it the nut 25 which bears the upper end of the spring 28 downwardly thereby tending to move the rod 23 downwardly.

= When the solenoid is not excited, the spring 32, acting through the pawl rod 23, keeps pawl 22 out of engagement with the blocker plate I3.

When the shaft I is moved toward the When the engine drives the transmission, the ring II moves counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 and the plate I3 is irictionally dragged counterclockwise so that its lug I5 engages boss 20 thereby causing surface II to be in the path of movement of the pawl 22. When the engine speed is increased to the speed where the governor switch I30 closes, the hand controlled change speed gearing being in intermediate "or high gear, the solenoid will be energized in the manner described. The pawl 22 is then urged downwardly by spring 28 and presses against surface II. Engagement of the pawl 22 with the notched locking ring II is prevented-until the speed of ring II is reduced to zero and the rotation of ring I I reverses. I

The reversal of ring II is eilfected by a reduction of engine speed (measured in miles per hour of vehicle speed) below vehicle speed by a predetermined amount dependent upon the gearratio of overdrive to normal drive. For example, if the overdrive increases the speed'ratio between vehicle drive wheels and the engine by 30%, the

and friction to about'35 M. P. H. Meanwhile the engine speed has diminishedto 24 M. P. H;, which speed is slightly more than 30% less than 35 M. P. H., the concurrent vehicle speed. As the engine speed decreases to24 M. P. H., the speed of ring -I I is reduced to zero and then the ring II starts to reverse in direction of rotation or to move clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2. As ring I I begins to move slowly clockwise, it drags frictionally the blocker plate I3 clockwise thereby causing its lug I5 to move away from the boss 20 and its notch I8 to become aligned with pawl 22 thereby permitting spring 28 to press pawl. 22 against a tooth of ring II. As ring II continues to rotate, it brings a notch I2 into alignment with pawl 22 thereby permitting spring 28 to press pawl 22 into locking engagement with the ring I I thereby locking sun gear'5. While the sun gear 5 is locked, transmission of power from the shaft I to. the shaft 8b takes place through the elements 2, 3a, 3, 4, 5, 1a,! and 8. The sun gear 5 being stationary, thering gear Ia. rotates'faster than shaft I. Since parts 9 and I are connected through a one-way clutch represented by the numeral I0, the ring I overruns the shaft I while the overdrive is effective.

During movement of the solenoid armature 25 the core 24 preloads the spring 28 so that it may push the pawl 22 into a notch I2 of the sun gear locking ring II when the blocker. I3 is retracted, and the flange 3| of nut 29 engages the resilient contact arm 35- thereby separating contact 35 'from contact 31 and breaking the circuit thru the main attracting coil 40 of the solenoid. The

During downward movement of pawl rod 23,

' the downwardly biased resilient arm 45 causes contact 46 to move into engagement with contact 41 thereby connecting coil 92 of relay 96 with battery 54 thru the following: battery 54, wire 56, terminal 6|, wire 94, coil 92, terminal 93, wire I69, terminal 49, resilient arm 45, contact 46, contact 41, ground and batteryground 55. Armature 95 is attracted to the core 9| to carry its contact 98 into engagement with contact .91 grounded at 98.

The circuit for grounding the ignition apparatus and thereby rendering it inoperative comprises wire |61,leading to terminal I64, terminal 15, contacts 14 and 13 of relay 66', wire 88, contacts 81 and 86 of relay 86, armature 85, armature 95 of relay 96 and contacts 96 and 91. While the pawl 22 engages the sun gear locking ring II to render the overdrive operative, .the pairs of contacts 96-91 and 86-81 are closed while the pair of contacts 13-14 are open. Therefore the ignition apparatus remains operative.

When the driver desires to render the overdrive inoperative, he presses the kick-switch rod |25a to interrupt the flow of current thru the winding 63 of the relay 66, whereupon the armature '65 returns to normal position separating contacts 66-61 and "-12 and reengaging contacts 13-14. This interrupts the flow of current thru the magnet winding 82 of relay 86 and thru the solenoid holding coil 4| thereby permitting revlay 86 and solenoid armature 25 to return to The ignition is momentarily normal condition. rendered inoperative because relay 86 delays separation of contacts 86-81 'for a brief interval,

thus rendering theeng'lne inoperative and therebyproducing a condition favorable to the repermitting the contact 36 to reengage the contact 31.

Apredetermined time after the separationof the contacts of relay 66, the contact 88 of relay 86 returns'to normal open position and the ignition is restored. This predetermined time'is measured or. determined by the relay 86. The .lag or time delay between the opening of contacts 66 and 61 of relay 66 and the opening of contacts 86 and 81 of relay 86 is effected by causing the armature 85 to seat or seal against the core 8| of relay 86 when its contacts are closed, thereby making it necessary for the magnetic flux in the core 8| to diminish substantially to zero before the armature 85 is released; The decay of flux in the core 8| is re-- tarded by the non-inductive resistance 88. During this measured time interval between the.

opening of contacts 6 6-61 of relay 66 and the opening of contacts 86-81- of' relay 86', the ignition terminal l64'is-grounded due to the fact that all ofthe pairs ofcontacts 13-14, 86-81 and 96-81 are then closed. The grounding of gear locking ring II and the pawl 22 in order to facilitate retraction spring 32.

The pawl 22 having sure placing a. frictional drag on the pawl, the

of the pawl by the pawl 22 and its rod 23 move upwardly due to the action of the spring 32. By the time, that the pawl 22 has been fully retracted from the sun gear locking ring I the rod 23 will have V 91 will be separated an instant after the separation of contacts 46 and 41. Therefore, as soon as the locking pawl 22 has been fully re-' tracted from the sun gear locking ring H, the ignition grounding circuit will be broken. Under normal conditions the contacts of relay 96 will open sooner than the contacts of relay 86. However, the opening of the contacts of relay 96 is contingent upon the retraction of the sun gear locking pawl 22 by the spring 32. In case been relieved of a presthe pawl'22is not retracted for any reason, such as failure of the return spring 32, the relay 86 finally operates to interrupt the ignition grounding circuit, thereby causing the ignition to be reestablished regardless of whether the overdrive has been rendered inoperative. Therefore the circuit operates whenever the driver desires to come. out of overdrive in a manner such as to disable the ignition in order to facilitate coming out of overdrive under-normal conditions. However, in case of failure .of the vehicle transmission to come out of overdrive, the ignition is reestablished after a time which should be suiiicient for the vehicle transmission to come out of overdrive under normal circumstances. In other words,

under normal conditions, the relay 96 opensahead of the relay 86 to interrupt the ignition grounding circuit. But, should the relay 96v fall to open to reestablish the ignition circuit, the relay 86 will eventually open after a measured time interval in order that the engine may be providedwith ignition regardless of failure of the vehicle transmission to come out of over-' drive.

It has been stated earlier in this specification that contacts "-12 open ahead of contacts 66-61. This arrangement is made in order that the inductive kick derived from the g holding .coil 4| at the instant of the separation In order to obtain the prescribed time delay feature of relay 86 without materially addingv to its cost, interference with the time delay feature of relay 86 by the inductive .kick from the holding coil 4| is eliminated by opening contacts 1|-12 ahead of contacts 66-61 so that relay winding 82 "is out of the circuit before a voltage can be induced in the winding 4|.

, The purpose of the signal lamps 99 and H6 will now be explained. At the instant relay 66 closes to supply current to thesoleno'id 36, lamp 6, which may be a red lamp, will burn toindicate that current has-been supplied to the 15 Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 1 in function but differs therefrom by the omission of the third relay 9!] and connection of the contacts 86 of relay 80 directly with the contacts 46 of solenoid 30 through a wire I" connecting terminal H6 of relay 8|] with terminal 49 of solenoid 30. In Fig. 3, rod 23 actuates contact arm button 44 through a contact blade H5. Contacts 46-4'I, 85-81 and 13-l4 are in. series in the grounding circuit of the ignition coil Hill which leads from terminal N14 to ground '48 of solenoid 30.

In Fig. 3, if lamp I l is connected to ground H I and the optional wire I I3 leading to solenoid terminal H4 is omitted, the-lamp I I (I will burn while the overdrive remains operative. If ground H I is omitted and wire H3 is included, lamp ll 0 burns to indicate that the control 'is operating to render the solenoid operative to establish the overdrive.

The ground circuit of the lamp includes wire H3, terminal I I4, contact blade I I5, rod 23 and ground i I8 provided by the solenoid 30. When the overdrive has been established, rod 23 will have be- 'pawl into locking position, said solenoid being controlled automatically in response to vehicle speed and in response to the status of the vehicle I transmission gears, and means under the control of the operator for rendering the solenoid inoperative and also for grounding the ignition system so that conditions are produced which are favorableto the retraction oi. the pawl by the spring, and means for restoring the ignition to operative condition independent of any control by the driver and independent of any movement of the pawl to non-locking position. This last named means functions automatically to restore the ignition to operative condition a measured time interval after operation of the means which renders the solenoid inoperative. Since there is a time interval of appreciable duration between the rendering oi. the ignition inoperative and the restore..- tion of the ignition to operative condition, I have brought about two separate instances where conditions are favorable to the retraction of the pawl from sun gear locking position by the pawl returning spring.

Let us first consider the instance where the ignition is rerideredinoperative. It will be understood there is a certain amount or lost'motion or side-play between the pawl 22 and the sides of a notch I2 0! the locking ring ll.

While the engine ignition is operative and the engine drives the vehicle, the torque transmitted by the engine-to the vehicle drive wheels is what I term as positive torques When the engine ignition is rendered inoperative, the vehicle tends to drive the engine andthe transmission-oi torque is reversed. -'I designate this reversed torque as negative torque. When positive torque is present the pawl 22 will press against one side of a notch l2 and, when negative torque is present, the pawl 22 will press against the other side of the notch l2. It is obvious that, if the ignition is rendered inoperative causing the engine to cease to fire, the

torque will change from positive to negative and the pawl 22 will move from a position where it 5 presses against one side oi the notch I2 to a posi-- tion where it presses against the other side of the notch. During the period of time of relative sidewise movement between the notch l2 and the pawl 22 in which the pawl 22 relatively moves from one side of the notch l2 to the other, there is a condition where there is no binding force between the ring II and pawl 22 to resist withdrawal of the pawl 22 by the pawl return spring 32. This change from positive torque to negative torque produces a condition which is favorable to the retraction of the pawl 22 from thering ll. Obviously the duration of this condition is relatively short, since it continues only long enough for the pawl to leave one side of the notch, traverse the lost motion space between the sides of the notch and then engage the opposite sides of the notch. Under some unusual circumstances, this period of short duration might not be sulficnt for the pawl 22 to be completely withdrawn 25 from the sun gear locking ring ll. However,

- another instance of favorable conditions for retraction of .the pawl 22 by the spring 32 is afforded. j At the end of the measured time interval provided by relay 80 during which the ignition may be inoperative, there is another condition of no binding between the pawl 22 and ring II at the instant when the ignition apparatus is rendered operative, because there is another reversal of torque from negative torque to positive torque. Therefore, the'present invention provides two instances which are favorable to the retraction of:

the pawl 22 of the sun gear locking ring ll. Therefore there are two opportunities for the 0 pawl 22 to be retracted.

While the embodiments of thepresent invention as herein disclosed, constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of 5 the claims which follow..

. What is claimed is as follows: 1. In an overdrive control for an automotive vehicle propelled by an internal combustion en-- gine having electrically operated ignition, the combination of a sun-gear-locking pawl, a spring and a circuit breaker operable in one direction to interrupt the grounding circuit and to connect the current source with the solenoidand with the time relay magnet coil, and operable in the reverse direction to remake the grounding circuit and to disconnect the time relay magnet coil from the current source before disconnecting the current source from the solenoid in order to preventaneffect upon'v the time relay by a voltage induced in the solenoid.

2.- In' an overdrive controlfor an automotive 7 vehicle propelled by an internal combustion engine having electrically operated ignition, the

combination of a sun-gear-locking pawl, a spring normally retaining the pawl in non-locking .position, a current source, a solenoid for moving the l pawl into locking position, a circuit for grounding the ignition and including a pair of normally closed contacts and a pair of normally open contacts, a time relay for maintaining the normally open'contacts closed a predetermined time after the solenoid is deenergized to eliminate engine operation in order to facilitate the return of the pawl to non-locking position, a solenoid relay in-:

' order to prevent an effect upon the time relay by a voltage induced in the solenoid and means for connecting the current source with the magnet coil of the solenoid relay.

3. In an overdrive control for an automotive vehicle propelled by an internal combustion en-' gine having electrically operated ignition, the combination of a sun-gear-locking pawl, a spring normally retaining the pawl in non-lockingposition, a current source, a solenoid for moving the pawl into locking position, a circuit for grounding the ignition, a time relay for maintaining the grounding circuit closed'for a predetermined time after the solenoid is de-ehergized to eliminate engine operation in order to facilitate return of the pawl to non-locking position, a cir-' cuit breaker operable in one direction to interrupt the grounding circuit and to connect the current source with the solenoid and with the time relay magnet coil, and operable in the reverse direction to remake the grounding circuit'and to disconnect the time relay magnet coil from the current source before'disconnecting the current source from the solenoid in order to prevent an sition, a current source, a solenoid for moving the pawl into locking position, a circuit for grounding the ignition and including a pair of normally closed contacts and a pair of normally open contacts, a time relayfor maintaining the normally open contacts closed a predetermined time after the solenoid is de-energized to eliminate engine operation in order to facilitate the return of the pawl to non-locking position,

a solenoid relayincluding an armature for separating the normally closed ignition grounding contacts while the solenoid is energized and having also two pairs of normally opencontacts closed by attraction of the armature for con necting the current source with the solenoid and with the magnet coil of the time relay, said pairs of contacts being mounted and arranged so that, when the armature of the solenoid relay is released, the pair of contacts connecting the current source and time relay coil will open ahead of the, pair of contacts connecting the current source and solenoid in order to prevent an effect upon the time relay by a voltage induced in the solenoid, means for connecting the current source with the magnet coil of the solenoid relay, and a switch responsive to retraction of the .pawl from sun-gear-locking position for interrupting the ignition ground circuit.

, EDWARD M. CLAYTOR.' 

